The URE Marathon is a free trail marathon in the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina. I’ve run this marathon 4 times now and consider it one of my annual favorites. However, this year they updated the course, and now it’s 100% single-track trail and has about 5000 feet of elevation gain, which makes it slightly more difficult than in past years.

A 9:00 PM start time for an ultramarathon with no clear ending in sight seems like the plot of some sadistic horror movie. But it wasn’t a movie—it was the 2023 Southern Tour Ultra: Last Man Standing.

I ran this race back in 2022 and took 2nd place with 20 hours and 84 miles of running, so my goal (I thought) was to come back and surpass 100 miles on my way to winning the race. That’s not exactly how things went down, though.

I told myself I’d just see how I felt that day and do my best to improve my previous time when I ran this same race in 2020. Apparently, I felt like suffering a bit.

For a refresher or for those of you not aware of what the Shakori 40 is, it’s a 40-mile race around the Shakori Hills Community Art Center. 10 laps of a 4-mile cross-country trail that weaves throughout the large wooded property. Repetitive but fun and engaging.

I ran The Final Countdown this year, and it was an awesome challenge. The Ultra Running Guys have created something special here, and I’m glad I got to experience it for myself.